This facility inaugurated on July 24, 2024 has the capacity to process up to 650,000 liters of milk daily and receives 50,000 liters of milk per hour.
Speaking at the event, Ngirente emphasized that the new factory will significantly benefit farmers and herders while advancing the country.
He highlighted that the factory's capacity to process and store 650,000 liters of milk per day ensures a steady market for herders' milk, reducing waste.
"It will address the milk market issue, particularly for the herders' milk we want to prevent from going to waste," he stated.
Rwanda's milk production increased from 776 million liters in 2017 to over a billion liters in 2023.
Ngirente urged livestock farmers to increase milk production by raising high-yield cows and using modern grass seeds.
He also stressed the importance of addressing livestock diseases collectively, assuring continued government support.
Standard guidelines stipulate that supplied milk is first inspected to ensure it meets quality standards, then filtered and cooled to 4 degrees Celsius before being stored.
Arsene Ntazinda, the Milk Powder Plant Manager, explained that the facility has two reception areas for milk, each capable of handling at least 25,000 liters.
The milk must be transported in specialized vehicles and then processed to separate the cream, resulting in distinct cream and milk products.
Ntazinda mentioned that milk consists of 87-90% water. During processing, the water is evaporated, leaving 10-12% of the original milk volume.
The plant uses technology to ensure that the milk's nutrients are preserved during processing. The water removed from the milk is treated to be environmentally safe and is used for irrigation and other plant operations.
The plant has two state-of-the-art laboratories: A Physico-Chemistry Lab and a Microbiology Lab, which provide results within 24 hours.
'Normally, results might take 48 hours to five days, but here we receive them very quickly,' Ntazinda stated.
James Biseruka, the Managing Director of Inyange Industries, highlighted that the plant sources milk from across the country, producing goods for both domestic and international markets.
'We can process 650,000 liters of milk from across the country, and it's exciting that our nation is now entering the international market. Unlike before, when we imported powder milk, Inyange now produces it locally,' he said.
Biseruka revealed that over $54 million has been invested in the plant. Since April 2024, the plant has processed 4.2 million liters of milk sourced nationwide.
'This investment has provided farmers with reliable market for their milk,' he emphasized.
Biseruka also mentioned that the products made at the plant would reduce the need for some imports.
'This plant allows us to cut down on imports and provides alternatives to imported milk powder.'
Besides milk powder, the Inyange Milk Powder Plant also produces ghee, cheese, and other dairy products. The milk powder is packaged in 25kg and 50kg bags, primarily for industrial use. It is designed to reconstitute into liquid milk when mixed with water.
Biseruka emphasized that Inyange Industries continually drives innovation, with its daily operations requiring packaging materials, chemicals, and other supplies that foster the growth of related industries.
The plant, equipped with advanced technology, employs 270 workers, and farmers supplying milk have been paid Rwf1.3 billion since April 2024.
The construction of the milk powder factory in Nyagatare Sector, Rutaraka industrial zone, began in October 2021.
IGIHE
